The SBA and small business optimism

From NFIB: Small Business Confidence Remains Low

The National Federation of Independent Business Index of Small Business Optimism gained 0.7 points in August*, rising to 88.8. Most of the improvement was accounted for by gains in expected real sales and expectations for business conditions six months out, the two components that lowered the index in July. But despite their improvements, both measures are still in recession territory. “Small business owners are expecting sub-par growth in the second half of 2010,” said Bill Dunkelberg, NFIB’s chief economist.